In July of 1976, the Viking Orbiter I made a photographic survey of the Cydonia region of Mars in preparation for landing the Viking Lander 2 on the surface of the planet. One of the images made seemed to show a human, or at least humanoid face on the planet's surface which instantly led to wild speculation that the structure, as well as several surrounding structures were artifically made, that is, by extraterrestrials.
A later 1998 image of this area seemed to confirm that the structure was more natural than of artificial origin, however, this claim by the government has only led to further entrenchment by those who claim otherwise. They see the government as not only wrong, but also engaged in a coverup operation similar to that which allegedly occurred at the Roswell alien crash site.
It is not surprising, in any event, that the " face" seen on Mars is androgynous. If mankind is to see his/her reflection somewhere in the stars, staring literally stone faced back at earth, it could only be as the ideal being that man someday seeks to become. This immortal, God-like super-human androgyne is both the beginning and the end of man as he now exists in deeply flawed form on planet earth. When man relinquishes his earthly tethers, he will, as Arthur C. Clarke prophesied in 2001 A Space Odyssey, be content, enlightened, complete.
Face on Mars
